KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knox County Sheriff’s Office reported a significant rise in immigration detainees booked into the county jail during the first four months of 2025, marking the highest numbers seen in at least six years.
Data obtained by WVLT News shows that nearly 400 immigration detainees were processed in April alone, more than doubling the 163 detainees booked in January. This surge represents a stark increase from previous years, aside from a dip during the COVID-19 pandemic when numbers temporarily declined.
Knox County’s jail holds immigration prisoners under a federal contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Under the agreement, the county is required to detain ICE prisoners, with the county bearing the operational costs but receiving a fee for each inmate housed. Similar contracts exist nationwide, involving multiple counties and agencies.
The upward trend in immigration detainees began at the start of the year after several years of relatively steady monthly intake numbers. The sharp rise has raised questions about the local impact on jail capacity and resources, as well as the broader implications for immigration enforcement in the region.
Officials from the Sheriff’s Office have yet to comment on the factors contributing to the increase, and it remains unclear whether this trend will continue throughout the rest of the year.
